Over the past year, uvex safety Australia has officially launched the global partnership with Grand Rapids Michigan based protective product manufacturer, HexArmor. HexArmor are the global leaders in extreme cut, impact, puncture and needlestick resistance hand and body PPE.
Due to the nature of the work, hand protection is a critical part of any mining safety program. Hand protection for miners is difficult to perfect because of the varied applications each worker performs, but with the right team in place and a commitment to safety, anything is possible.
An underground mine company based in Virginia sought out HexArmor® for help and conducted a trial of mining safety gloves. After unexplained palm wear during the glove trial; HexArmor® decided to travel underground to find the answers.
Three Injuries in One Day
Prior to trialling HexArmor® gloves, a Virginia mining company experienced three injury incidents related to worker’s hands in one day. Through a process of trial and error, the company tested several gloves from different manufacturers, but none provided sufficient protection for the extreme working environments. After struggling to find a solution that provided the protection and the adaptability to work on diverse worksite applications, they reached out to HexArmor.®
HexArmor® worked with the company to develop a glove based on their specifications – durable grip, cut, puncture, and impact protection – and began a trial with 20 workers. When the workers turned in their gloves for inspection, HexArmor® specialists noticed unexpected wear on the palm area, and sent a product development crew from Michigan to visit the mines to determine the issue and find a solution.
Commitment on Both Sides
uvex and HexArmor ® crew went underground to determine the cause of the unexplained wear to the palms. By observing and documenting the workers performing their daily tasks, uvex and HexArmor ® determined that the increased wear was caused by a hot drill bit that had to be changed every few minutes. When workers grabbed the bit, it melted the palms of the gloves.
Product Success Comes from Customer Feedback
Once diagnosed, the problem was a quick fix. HexArmor® introduced the miners to the Rig Lizard® 2025, a glove with impact protection, cut and puncture resistance, high-dexterity, and a TP-X+® palm that withstand high-temperature applications. This solution would not have been found without the opportunity to visit the mine and the support and feedback from the mining company. The mining industry hasn’t seen a glove innovation like the Rig Lizard in years, and it has the potential to increase the safety at this Virginia mine, while also changing the entire industry.
The Rig Lizard® 2025
The Rig Lizard® 2025 stands out from other Rig Lizards, with the highest level of abrasion resistance and cut resistance in the series. The TP-X+® palm provides exceptional grip in oil based situations and even offers some heat resistance. Combine those features with an interior layer of SuperFabric®* brand material, and this glove is ready for action. And with the traditional IR-X® back-of-hand impact design, your hands are protected from potential smash injuries. To learn more about the Rig Lizard® 2025 or any other HexArmor® products, contact a HexArmor® solutions specialist today.
uvex product trial program
Not sure which PPE products are the best for you?
Our goal is to work with you together to help reduce injuries and lower your PPE costs. We surround our products (eyewear, hearing, gloves, respirators) with an array of services which support PPE decision-makers in selection and safety strategy implementation ensuring that PPE wearers derive maximum benefit in terms of protection and ‘issue-free’ wearability.
For more information email marketingau@uvex.com.au or visit info.uvex-safety.com.au/product-trial-program
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